June 17, 2009

Today was absolutely amazing. We set out on a game drive to Tarangire National Park again. We saw elephants and zebra again, but immediately set out on a hunt for lions and a leopard. We went further into the park than yesterday. We eventually found an entire family of lions. The male lion - who seriously looked like he was straight out of the Lion King, was what we first spotted. But, he was off in the distance behind some tree limbs, kind of hiding. Then we saw an entire clan right in front of us, all sitting together in front of a tree about 10-15 feet from the truck. These were not what you would think a baby cub would look like, but they were baby cubs. They looked more like small lions, but they were SOO CUTE! They were very playful and so innocent looking. They kept playing footsie with each other. We all took a million photos of them. We saw there for forever, as we were all in amazement.
From there we headed to find a leopard-bound and determined, but certainly not really thinking it would happen! We actually saw one, however the first car spotted him. He was so far in the distance though. The other car left and we decided to track him down. We drove back to the dry river bed and spotted him in a tree. We then found ourselves stuck in the sand in the river bed. We had asked to get just a little closer and a little closer and Nicole reminded us that we should be careful what we wish for! Good advice I think! Elisa, our guide, said he would have to get out in order to turn on the 4WD and when he got out that the leopard would scatter, so we needed to get our photos fast. He was sooo amazing. He was glaring at us like we were dinner. He had some serious intensity in his eyes. As soon as Elisa got out of the truck, the leopard checked Elisa out like he was his supper and then jumped from the tree fast as lightning and was gone in a flash. It was so amazing. I still can't believe that we saw him. The adrenaline rush alone from seeing him was priceless. We left and then came back a little later and saw him a 3rd time in plain view in the dry river bed, but only for a few seconds.
When we left the park, we headed to these two markets of the messai people. This type of market is not full of various booths and natives selling their crafts and the sort, but rather a single tin hut. These women hand make jewelry, baskets and carve wood into giraffe heads and the sorts. They also had blankets that they all wear as clothing (they are known for wearing red). They had many things made from beads. All of the women wore these necklaces I would call them around their necks. They were large and circular and made from beads. When they danced they bounced up and down off their shoulders.
We went to two different places. At the first place, the head lady wanted to argue a little about the bargaining. Our guide Jackson (Babu) did a good job discussing prices with her. He had to talk in her tribal language to negotiate. They would discuss for quite some time and it really made me nervous. I just wanted to know what they were saying. When we left they sang and danced for us and asked us to join in. It was never really a choice of whether or not you wanted to or not...you just did. They put their necklaces on us and dressed Christina and Jaime in their clothes. They jump up and down when they dance and their necklaces just bounce up and down. At the second market, I got a little emotional. It just all set in with me. It all felt so right when they were singing and dancing and I was snapping photograph after photograph of these people and their country. I literally teared up. This place is just too much of God's country.
We leave this camp tomorrow morning and head up the Rift Valley to another tented lodge. We will go on a walking tour in the morning and then a night game drive later that night, where we will hopefully see more cats.